Machine for manufacturing floor mops



March 5, 1951 c. a OLSEN 2,784,035

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING FLOOR MOPS Filed July 27, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. 634A; 5 Qsew AT ORNEY.

March 5, 1957 c. E. OLSEN 2,784,035

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING FLOOR MOPS Filed July 27, 1951 4 Sheets45heet 2 INVENTOR. (2%; E 04 SEA! A TTORNE Y.

March 5, 1957 c. E. OLSEN MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING FLOOR MOPS 4 She'ets-Sheet 3 Filed July 27, 1951 INVENTOR. C2 5 0455A! A TORNE Y.

- March 5, 1957 c. a OLSEN MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING FLOOR MOPS 4 Shets-Sheet 4 Filed July 27, 1951 INVENTOR. (2W4 t. 04 50v A TTORNE Y.

United States MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING FLOOR MOPS Application July 27, 1951, Serial No. 238,911

Claims. (Cl. 300-16) The present invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of floor mops, and has special reference to the manufacture of floor mops that are made of short lengths of thrums or coarse yarn of cotton centrally secured by means of a binder strip, the mop being adapted to be fastened to a handle.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which is simple in construction, capable of being easily and safely operated and controlled, adjustable toproduce difierent lengths, thicknesses and widths of mops, and highly efficient in operation.

The several features of the invention, whereby these and other objects may be attained, will be readily understood from the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective, partly diagrammatical, of certain work-engaging parts of the machine;

Figs. 2. and 3 are similar views, but showing certain of the parts in different positions;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the completed mop or mop head ready to be attached to a handle;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatical view, partly in section, of electrical and air-operable means for controlling the operation of the machine;

iFig. 6 is a similar view with certain of the parts in a different position; I

Fig; 7 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the machine;

Fig. 7a is a detail side elevation of a counting or measuring device hereinafter described;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the machine;

' Fig. 9 is a detail side view of a portion of the machine looking in the direction of the arrow 9 shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. .10 is an end view of the same looking in the direction of the arrow 10 shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, wit certain .parts broken away, and on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 1111 of Fig. 8;v and Fig. 12 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, and with certain parts broken awa taken on the line 12*12 of Fig. 11.

The machine illustrated in the drawings is particularly adapted for use in forming the mop shown in Fig. 4. This mop consists of cotton thrums or coarse yarns 2, which may be made up of one or more layers with the yarns of each layer arranged generally side by side. The yarns are held by means of a tape 4 which is wrapped around the central portion of the collection of yarns and secured by a line of stitching 6.. The layer or layers of yarn 2 may be supplied to the machines from one or more supply rolls, such as a supply roll 8. The yarn passes from the supply roll or rolls between upper and lower feed rolls 1% From these feed rolls the yarn passes between upper and lower cutting.

off knives 12 and 14, and then on to the upper run of an endless conveyor belt 16. H

'- The machine is further provided with a sewing machine head 18- th-at is mounted -on a table 20 securedon a' "ice frame 22 that is mounted to slide in brackets 24 secured to the machine frame. An adjusting screw 26, which is screw-threaded through the rear bracket 24 and with its end connected to a cross-bar 28 on the frame, permits the position of the sewing machine table 20 to be adjusted longitudinally of the machine.

On the table 20 is secured one end of a plate 30 which extends transversely over the upper run of the conveyor belt 16. This plate 30 is provided with a groove 32 in the top thereof adapted to receive a length of binding tape 4. The conveyor belt 16 travels at the same surface speed as the feed rolls 1.0.

When a predetermined length of yarn has been fed by the feed rolls 1t upon the conveyor belt 16, the operation of the feed rolls and the conveyor belt is stopped. Then the upper cutting-oh knife 12 is swung downwardly so" as to sever a predetermined length of-yarn from thesupply strip. Previously to the passage of the yarn over the grooved plate 36, the binder tape 4 is placed in the groove 32. in the plate, and when a length of yarn is cut off'it is centrally positioned overthe binding tape. The binder tape 4 may be positioned in the groove 32 by hand or by any suitable automatic means (not shown). When the length of yarn is cut off, the operator folds the projecting ends of the binding tape over the sides and top of the yarn, and then slides the yarn and tape beheath the presser-foot 34 of the sewing machine, and at the same time throws the sewing machine into operation so as to sew the tape by the line of stitching 6, thus completing the manufacture of the mop-or mop head shown in Fig. 4. j j I As such sewing of the tape is being completed, the operator againthrows'the machine into operation, including the feed rolls 1d and conveyor belts 16, so as' to'feed out and cut oh the next length of yarn, and centrally position it'over a binder tape 4-previou s'ly' positionedin the groove of the plateStl.

The feed rolls id are carried by shafts 36. The ends of the shaft 36 of the lower feed roll are 'r'nounted, in hearings in brackets 38 on the machine fran'ie. The shaft- 36 of the upper feed roll has its ends mounted inbear ings in. the ends of arms 49 which have their rear ends pivoted on a shaft 42 mounted in bearings in brackets 43 on the machine frame. The upper feed roll 10 is pressed downwardly by means of springs 44 coiled aboutrods 46 and interposed between adjusting nuts 48 screw-threaded on the rods and a cross-bar Stl connecting the "arms 40. The rods 46 extend loosely through apertures incrossbar 54 and their lower ends are. securedto a plate 52 of the machine frame. The upper feed rolllti mayv have a longitudinally ribbed sleeve of ruhbe'rso-as. toefEect'uni form feeding of the layers of yarn without" slippage.

The feed rolls 19 are driven at the same-speedthrough sprocket chains 54. The sprocket chain: 5 4-of'th'e' upper feed roll passes over sprocket wheels secured on the upper shaft 36 and a sprocket wheel secured on the shaft 42. The sprocket chain 54 of the lower feed roll passes over 'a sprocket wheel on its shaft 36 and a sprocket wheel ona shaft 56 mounted to tnrnin bearings in the brackets 43. The shafts 42 and 56 are driven at the same speed through intermeshing gears 58. s j f i Y The shaft 56 is driven so as to drive the feed rolls-10 through a clutch comprising a d'riving'membjer :60' mounted to turn on the shaft 56, and a driven inembf'62 keyed to the shaft 56 and adapted to be shifted by ineansof a clutch lever 64 so as to establish driving connection between the driving member 60 of the clutch and the shaft 56. The lever 64 is pivotedon a bracket 65 The driving member 60 of the clutch is driven by asprocket chain 66 which passes over a sprocket wheel'secured-lto said clutch member 60 and a sprocket wheel smash a'shaft 68 which is driven through'suitable gearin (do? s eats-'5 By an eletfic niot'of 70. When the clutch is ilif ow't'f Giif the" feed rails 10' are prevented ffdii'i ever running by a suitable pawl 69 connected with the lower arm of the clutch lever being moved upwardly thereby to engage a toothed stop wheel 71 on the shaft 56 (Fig.

e conveyor belt 16 passes' over pulleys 72 which are 66 on shafts 74'. The belt is driven by means of a sprocket chain 76 (Figs. 8 and 10) which passes over a sprocket wheel secured on the forward shaft 74 and a sprocket wheel secured to the shaft 56.

The nppercntnng-on knife 12 has one end pivoted on astuds'haft 78 and its other end connected with a piston fed 80 of an air cy'linder 82. By means of this rod 80 the upper knife 12 may be raised and lowered into its retracted and cutting-off positions with relation to the station ry lower knife 14 which is secured on the frame plate" 52. The upper knife 12 is maintained in proper cuttihg engagement with the lower knife 14 by any suitable meahs as by an adjusting block connected with the knife 12.

As the layers of yarn 'pass from the feed roll 13 to the slitting-E knives 12-'14 they are properly centered and more or less bunched together by means of guiding members 84 and 86. These guiding members may be adjusted toward and from each other so as to accommodate yarn layers of different widths as by adjustment of or both of said guides. In Fig. 12, the guide 86 is shown mounted on the ends of adjusting screws 88, whereby upon turning the screws the guide 86 may be adjusted'toward and from the other guide to vary the distance' between the guides. It will be apparent these guides 84 and 86 form a throat through which the yarn passes to the conveying belt.

v The means for controlling the length of mop yarn sev as by the cutting-oil knives 12 and 14 is controlled means of a suitable counting or measuring device 90. The operating shaft 91 of this counter is coupled to the fid of the shaft 56 so as to be driven thereby. This counter may be any of the standard counting devices for ope'i'ation by means of the usual clutch pedal 92, that serves to connect and disconnect the sewing machine with thedriving' motor 94 therefor (Fig. 7).

U Referring to the diagrammatical views, Figs. and 6, the driving motor and the sewing machine motor 94 are in circuit and are adapted to be thrown into operation by closing a switch 96 so as to cause the motors to operatejpbntinuou'sly,

The machine is started by means of afoot-treadle 93 which, when pressed by the operator, closes a switch 100 incircuit connection with the counter 90 and a solenoid 102. This solenoid serves to move a piston 104 in a cylinder 106 to which compressed air is admitted through acohduit 108, the cylinder being provided with a vent 110. An expansion spring 112 is interposed between the nner end of the pistonand the end wall of the cylinder 'the pi'ston 1 04 is thus moved by the solenoid '2 ate H e position shown in Fig. 6, air passes from the eylinde'i' through a conduit 114 into one end of a cylinder 116. This "air serves to move a piston 118 in one direcnon tenet througha rod connection 120 with the clutch lever '6 to close the'clutch '60, 62 to establish driving san tation betwesn the shaft 56 and the machine motor 70, this ceasing the reed rolls 10, 'th conveyor belt 16, an "the trait of the counter on tob'edrive the the rollers havsmfade a predetermined hnt'nberjof'revo- 4 lutions so as to feed the yarn a predetermined distance Beyond the c'fiffihgfiff knives 12, 14, the counter 90 through its electrical connection with the solenoid 102 deenergizes the solenoid, thus causing the piston 104 to be moved by the spring 112 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 5. When this occurs, air is admitted into the outer end of the cylinder 116 and is exhausted from it other end,- so as to act through the rod 120 and clutch lever 64 to disengage the clutch 6 5, 62, thus stopping the operation of the feed rollers and the conveyor belt 16. As the operation of these parts are stopped, air is admitted through a conduit 122' to the upper end of the cylinder 32, thus forcing a piston 124 therein downwardly and through the piston rod 80 swinging the upper cutting-off knife 12 downwardly to sever the length of yarn.

The operation of the knife 12 should occur immediately after the stopping of the feeding of the yarn, and to provide for this a speed control valve 124 is provided in the conduits 122.

After the operator has wrapped the projecting ends of the tape 4 about the length of yarn, and as the sewing of the tape is completed, the operator by again pressing on the foot-treadle 98 may again throw the machine into operation to feed and sever the next length of yarn, a speed control valve 124' serving to effect raising of the knife before the clutch 60, 62 is thrown in.

It will be apparent that my machine is simple in construction, may be easily and safely operated and adjusted to produce different lengths, thicknesses and widths of mops, even by the blind, and that the mops are produced uniformly and expeditiously. By the mere adjustment of the width of the throat formed by the curved guiding members 86 leading to the cutting-ofiknives, the machine may be accommodated for mops of different widths. By setting the counting device and adjustment of the sewing machine to properly center the tapereceiving groove in the plate 30, the machine may be adjusted for different length mops. Also by adjustment of the tension of the pressure springs 44 for the upper,

feed roll 10, and varying the number or thickness of the layers of yarn supplied to the machine, the machine may produce mops of difierent thicknesses. It is to be understood that in certain instances means may be pro vided for cutting off the lengths of tape and wrapping them about the lengths of yarn and for the feeding of the lengths of yarn and the tapes through the sewing machine, and the machine or devices thereof instead of being manually controlled may otherwise be controlled and operated automatically.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for use in the manufacture of mops of the class described, the combination of feed rolls for feeding a web of yarn longitudinally, cutting-off knives arranged in proximity to the delivery side of said feed rolls between which the yarn is fed, centering guides for the yarn between the feed rolls and the knives engaging the longitudinal edges of the web, a conveyor for receiving the yarn after it leaves said knives and for conveying it longitudinally, means for driving the feed rolls and said conveyor comprising a clutch adapted to be thrown into and out of operation to throw the feed rolls and conveyor into and out of operation, manually controllable means for throwing the clutch into operation, a measuring device for throwing the clutch out of operation when the feed rolls have fed a predetermined length of yarn past the knives, and means actin'g automatically to operate the knives to sever said length of yarn from the web as the feeding of the yarn is stopped.

2. A machine for use in the manufacture of mops of the class described, the combination of feed rolls for feeding a web of yarn longitudinally, cutting-off knives arranged in proximity to the delivery side of said rolls between which the yarn is fed, an endless conveyor having its upper run in position for receiving the yam after it leaves said knives and for conveying it longitudinally, means for driving the feed rolls and said conveyor comprising a clutch adapted to be thrown into and out of operation to throw the feed rolls and conveyor into and out of operation, manually controllable means for throwing the clutch into operation, a measuring device for throwing the clutch out of operation when the feed rolls have fed a predetermined length of yarn past the knives, and means acting automatically to operate the knives to sever said length of yarn from the web as the feeding of the yarn is stopped and for retracting the knives upon operation of said manually controllable means to throw the clutch into operation.

3. In a machine for use in the manufacture of mops of the class described, the combination or" feed rolls for feeding a web longitudinally, cutting-01f knives arranged in proximity to the delivery side of said feed rolls between which the yarn is fed, an endless conveyor having its upper run arranged substantially horizontally for receiving the yarn after it leaves said knives and for conveying it longitudinally, means for driving the feed rolls and said conveyor comprising a clutch adapted to be thrown into and out of operation to throw the feed rolls and conveyor into and out of operation, manually operable means for throwing the clutch into operation, a measuring device for throwing the clutch out of operation when the feed rolls have fed a predetermined length of yarn past the knives and upon the conveyor, and means acting automatically to operate the knives to sever said length of yarn from the web as the feeding of the yarn is stopped.

4. In a machine for use in the manufacture of mops of the class described, the combination of feed rolls for feeding a web of yarn longitudinally, cutting-off knives arranged in proximity to the delivery side of said feed rolls between which the yarn is fed, a conveyor for receiving the yarn after it leaves said knives and for.

conveying it longitudinally, driving means for the feed rolls and said conveyor comprising a clutch adapted to 6 be thrown into and out of operation to throw the feed rolls and conveyor into and out of operation, fluid operated means for thus operating said clutch including manually controllable means for rendering said fluid operable means operative to throw the clutch into operation, and

g a measuring device for throwing the clutch out of operation when the feed rolls have fed a predetermined length of yarn past the knives, and fluid operable means operatively connected with said first-mentioned fluid operable means acting automatically to operate the knives to sever said length of yarn from the web as the feeding of the yarn is stopped.

5. In a machine for use in the manufacture of mops of the class described, the combination of feed rolls for feeding a web of yarn longitudinally, cutting-off knives arranged in proximity to the delivery side of said feed rolls between which the yarn is fed, said knives being adapted to be relatively moved into engagement to sever the yarn thus fed between them, driving means for the feed rolls, manually controllable means for throwing the driving means into operation, a measuring device for throwing said driving means out of operation when the feed rolls have fed a predetermined length of yarn past the knives, and means acting automatically to relatively move the knives into engagement to sever said length of yarn from the web as the feeding of the yarn is stopped and for maintaining the knives in engagement until said manually controllable means is operated to again throw the driving means into operation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 913,318 Stocker Feb. 23, 1909 1,763,836 VanVeen June 17, 1930 1,782,362 McArthur Nov. 18, 1930 1,850,853 Smith Mar. 22, 1932 2,387,650 Davis Oct. 23, 1945 2,500,667 Domenk Mar. 14, 1950 

